Container for use with opening means

ABSTRACT

The invention resides in a container ( 10 ) having at least one plastic surface, having a formation or step having a peripheral edge arranged around an area ( 18 ) to be opened; and at least one second surface located in a region adjacent the first surface, and having a recess adjacent the formation on the plastic surface. The first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge of the container for securing an object located therebetween. The plastic surface and the second surface are configured such that in cross-section a channel ( 26 ) is formed between the formation and the recess, and said formation and/or recess is configured to receive and/or guide a cutting edge for opening the container.

The invention relates to an improved container for use with openingmeans. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing saidcontainer. Although the following description refers to plastic blisterpack containers and/or clam shell containers it will be appreciated bypersons skilled in the art that the inventive concept herein can be usedfor a wide variety of containers, including those made from paper, card,foil, metal and/or the like and is not limited to plastic blister packcontainers and/or clam shell containers.

The use of plastic blister packs and clam-shells as containers isextensive. Such containers are routinely used to sell many differenttypes of products such as electronic articles, for example disposablecameras, memory cards sticks, hard-drives; household articles includinglightbulbs; small replacement parts for cars such as sparking plugs;children's toys and so on. Blister packs generally have a molded plasticfront and a cardboard back. Clam-shells generally have a plastic frontand back, one or both of which is molded. Both of these types ofcontainers are generally described as preformed containers. These typesof containers are usually thermoformed and/or heat sealed around theedges of the container defining an interior volume within the containerin which is provided the product. Such containers have many advantagesincluding being inexpensive, relatively easy to produce, strong,transparent and thus the contents can be readily viewed, and the formingprocess ensures that the surface container follows the shape ofcontents, thereby reducing the overall size of the container whilstbeing aesthetically pleasing. The containers, being sealed, also providesecurity for the contents as well as protecting said contents fromexposure to moisture, static and general environmental conditions.

A significant problem of such containers is that they are very difficultto open. Typically a sharp knife, scissor or specifically designedwidget is used to open the containers which can injure the person and/ordamage the contents. Opening such containers is particularly demandingfor the elderly or infirm. Indeed, it has been reported that thousandsof people every year need medical treatment after injuring themselvesopening or attempting to open such containers. Furthermore, once thecontainers have been opened, the edges of the openings are usually sharpenough to cut a person and dangerous to children and domestic animals.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a containerwhich attempts to negate the abovementioned problems and allow thecontainer to be easily opened in order to remove the contents providedwithin. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a newtype of blister pack and/or clam-shell container that attempts to negatethe abovementioned problems.

According to one aspect, a container includes: at least one plasticsurface, having a formation or step having a peripheral edge arrangedaround an area to be opened; and at least one second surface located ina region adjacent the first surface, and having a recess adjacent theformation on the plastic surface, wherein the first and second surfacesare sealed at an edge of the container for securing an object locatedtherebetween, and wherein the plastic surface and the second surface areconfigured such that in cross-section a channel is formed between theformation and the recess, and said formation and/or recess is configuredto receive and/or guide a cutting edge for opening the container.

According to another aspect, a container includes at least one plasticsurface, having a step, formed by a recess or protrusion, having aperipheral edge arranged around an area to be opened. At least onesecond surface is also provided located in a region adjacent the firstsurface, and having a corresponding formation adjacent the recess orprotrusion of the plastic surface. The first and second surfaces aresealed at an edge of the container for securing an object locatedtherebetween, and the plastic surface and the second surface areconfigured such that in cross-section a channel is formed between thestep and the formation. The channel is configured to receive a cuttingedge for opening the container.

The wall, or a portion thereof, of the step is thinner than the plasticsurface such that it is easier to initiate a cut or tear in thecontainer.

In cross-section, the channel can have a quadrilateral profile. Theprofile shape can be continuous around the portion to be opened. Theprofile can be square or triangular. In cross-section, the channel canhave a minimum dimension of 3 mm.

The second interior surface can have a recess for locating an objecttherein. By way of example, the channel can be formed on three sides ofthe recess.

The formation can have a raised portion configured to provide a void orair-gap above the second surface, and wherein the formation, incross-section, has a groove.

The formation can have a cross sectional profile having a channelarranged between two raised sections.

The formation has a cross sectional profile in the form of the letter“M” from the Latin alphabet.

The channel between the formation and the recess defines a void, orair-gap, which is configured to receive the tip of a cutting implementsuch that said tip is guide or retained therein.

The groove or channel of the formation has tear-line and/orperforations.

Overall, the formation is provided on the surface to form a channelhaving space beneath that can receive the end of an implement. When animplement, such as an edge of a knife, is pushed in to the formation ittears or cuts through the formation until the tip is located in therecess. Movement of the implement along the recess splits or divides theformation to open the container. This inhibits accidental oruncontrolled movement of the implement.

The shape of the formation in cross-section is profiled to furthersecure the implement and further inhibit accidental or uncontrolledmovement of the implement.

By way of example, an M-shaped formation in a plastic surface can beformed having a space there beneath such that an implement penetratingthe central groove of the M-shaped formation is located (i) between theedges of the M-shape and/or (ii) in a recess in the second surface.

One or more of the plastic surfaces can comprise molded plastic. Thecontainer can be formed from a single piece or sheet of plastic.

The container can be a molded blister pack type, or a molded clam shelltype.

The container can be adapted to guide a cutting edge protruding throughsaid plastic surface of the container in the region of the step andpassing through the plastic surface.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a containerincluding: providing at least one plastic surface, having a step havinga peripheral edge arranged around an area to be opened; and providing atleast one second interior surface located in a region beneath the firstsurface, and forming a corresponding formation adjacent the recess orprotrusion of the plastic surface; sealing the first and second surfacesat an edge of the container for securing an object located therebetween,wherein the plastic surface and the second surface are configured suchthat in cross-section a channel is formed between the step and theformation, and said channel is configured to receive a cutting edge foropening the container.

Typically the term “cut” refers to a break, split, incision, sliceand/or the like of the plastic surface of the container.

The container can be a pre-formed blister pack type container,pre-formed clam shell type container and/or the like. Preferably whenthe container is of a blister pack type, the one or more articlescontained inside are located between one or more sheets of moldedplastics material. Further typically at least one surface of the blisterpack is formed from heat and/or vacuum molding a plastic sheet toclosely fit the package contents to be located in the same in use.

Preferably when the container is a clam shell type container, the one ormore articles are held between two or more sheets of plastics materialin use at least one of which is molded.

Typically the plastics material is substantially includes Polyvinylchloride (PVC), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP),and/or copolymers of the aforementioned, and/or plastics material withsimilar characteristics. The container is typically constructed fromplastics material that is relatively sturdy where the container is notintended to be opened by hand.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that opening meanscan be attached to the surface in any shaped path and thus the resultingcut-line can also be in any shape corresponding to the path.

The channel of the invention can form a groove, which can be a corner ina recess of a surface of the container. The groove can be internal,located between the surfaces of the container. The container can containone or more channels or grooves that substantially guide the openingmeans.

The channel can define an interior volume along which the opening meansis guided. The channel may be located separately from the moldedinterior volume provided to contain product. The channel can extendalong a substantial section of one surface of the plastic containerforming essentially a “U” or “C” shape. The channel can be between 1-5mm wide and 3-10 mm deep.

The groove and/or channel can allow selective sectional opening of acontainer which has more than one section. Typically this is for usewhen opening a pack or container containing more than one item, whereonly a portion of the total items are used at a time and the containeris retained to store the remaining items. Further typically when theretained items are required the user simply moves the opening meansfurther through the container to open a further section.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood, referencewill now be made, by way of example, to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is cross-sectional view of a container in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are plan views of a container having formationpatterns, while FIG. 3 b is a close-up of an overhang at a corner of aformation; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a formation on plastic surface.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the improvedcontainer formations are applicable to wide number of difficult to openconfigurations which are not intended to be opened easily and/or byhand.

Referring to FIG. 1, a container 10 has a plastic surface 12 having astep or formation 14, in the form of a recess or protrusion, or having arecess. The formation has a peripheral edge 16 arranged around an areato be opened 18. A second surface 20 is located in a region adjacent, orbeneath the first surface, as viewed, and having a corresponding recess22 adjacent the formation 14 of the plastic surface. The recess 22 isoptional, and the second surface 20 can be flat beneath the formation14. The first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge 24 of thecontainer for securing an object located therebetween. The plasticsurface and the second surface are configured such that in cross-sectiona channel or void 26 is formed between the step 14 and the secondsurface or formation 22, and said channel 26 is configured to receive acutting edge (not shown) for opening the container.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a container wherein the step 14 andperipheral edge 16 are located proximal the edge 24 of the container 10.

The features of FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown, by way of example, on a moldedclam shell blister pack container 10, comprising upper 12 and lower 20surfaces which are preformed and heat sealed together. The containerincludes the shell or blister portion 18 where the upper and lowersurfaces are spaced apart, and thus not sealed together. It is in theshell or blister portion 18 in which the contents of the container arelocated.

When the user wants to open the container, a cutting means pierces thesurface of the first surface 12, or second surface 20, in the region ofthe channel 26 and is drawn through the channel, by way of example, inthe direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During this movementthe cutting means is drawn through the surface 12, 20 in a guided manneralong the path formed by the channel 26. In FIG. 1, this path followsthe edge of recess 16 in which an object is stored, while in FIG. 2 thepath follows the periphery of the container 10.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the path formedby channel can be of any shape and does not need to follow the outeredge of the blister portion. Indeed it is possible that only a sectionof the blister portion and/or the upper surface needs to be removed toopen the container. Often this type of opening is used if the containeris intended for re-use. Furthermore is will be appreciated that thecontainer can include means, such as clips, studs and/or the like tore-seal the container.

The cutting implement could be a small kitchen knife, scissors orspecifically designed widget that pierces channel 26 and is guided alongthe channel to cut open the container 10. Either the first surface 12 orthe second surface 20 can be pierced and/or cut. Either surface can havea weakened portion in the region of the channel to aid piercing and/orcutting along the channel. By way of example, the edge 14 can run closerto the edge of the packaging, whilst a wall of the channel 26 can beformed of thinner plastic making the container easier to cut. Cuttingaction would be straight cuts along the channel 26 and around thepackaging.

Although FIG. 2 shows a channel 26 around the entire periphery of thecontainer, said channel may only be configured along three (3) edges inorder to retain the material of the perforated surface. In this way, thepackaging is still in one piece making disposal and re-recycling easier.Sharp edges, perforation burs or shards of plastic are inhibited.

The channel 26 can be configured abutted close, at a distance ofapproximately 3 mm, from a welded edge of the container. Thisfacilitates extracting the contacts.

Multiple steps 14 and channels 26 can be configured upon a containersuch that multi-content packaging can be provided e.g. light bulbs. Tobe clear, in any event both the abutted and the 3-sided guide groove canbe used in combination to optimise the opening solution for anyparticular packaging topology.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show examples of channels 26 that can be formed on acontainer 10. In FIG. 3 a the channel 26 has rounded corners to enable acutting implement to pass through the channel and open the blisterportion 18 in fewer movements or operations.

In FIG. 3 b, the formation has three straight portions with two90-degree bends along its length. At the corners, overhangs can beprovided to make the cutting of the formation easier.

FIG. 4 shows in cross-section one example of a formation 14 formed in anupper plastic surface 12 that can be positioned above a surface 20. Theformation is substantially M-shaped having two peaks 28 with a trough orgroove 16 therebetween. The surface 20 can optionally have a recess 22(not shown) located underneath the groove 16. The groove can optionallyhave a thin-walled portion and/or perforations.

In use, the container can be opened by pushing an implement into thegroove to penetrate the material at the base of the grove 16. Theimplement is then partially constrained by the adjacent walls ofmaterial 12 forming the peaks 28. If a recess 22 were located beneaththe groove the tip of the implement would rest therein.

Once inserted, the implement can be drawn along the groove 16 (in to orout of the page as viewed) and be guided by the peaks 28. To be clear,the tip of the implement is guided within the void or channel 26, formedby an air gap, as it moves along the groove 16 such that it is inhibitedfrom moving out of the groove.

The present invention has been described above purely by way of example,and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of theinvention, which extends to equivalents of the features described andcombinations of one or more features described herein. The inventionalso consists in any individual features described or implicit herein.

1. A container including: at least one plastic surface, having aformation or step having a peripheral edge arranged around an area to beopened; and at least one second surface located in a region adjacent thefirst surface, and having a recess adjacent the formation on the plasticsurface, wherein the first and second surfaces are sealed at an edge ofthe container for securing an object located therebetween, and whereinthe plastic surface and the second surface are configured such that incross-section a channel is formed between the formation and the recess,and said formation and/or recess is configured to receive and/or guide acutting edge for opening the container.
 2. The container according toclaim 1, wherein one wall of the formation or step is thinner than theplastic surface such that it is easier to cut or tear.
 3. The containeraccording to claim 1 wherein, in cross-section, the channel isquadrilateral.
 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein, incross-section, the channel has a minimum dimension of 3 mm.
 5. Thecontainer according to claim 1, wherein, the second interior surface hasa recess for locating an object therein, and the channel is formed onthree sides of the recess.
 6. The container according to claim 1,wherein the formation has a raised portion configured to provide a voidor air-gap above the second surface, and wherein the formation, incross-section, has a groove.
 7. The container according to claim 1,wherein the formation has a cross sectional profile having a channelarranged between two raised sections.
 8. The container according toclaim 1, wherein the formation has a cross sectional profile in the formof the letter “M” from the Latin alphabet.
 9. The container according toclaim 1, wherein the channel between the formation and the recessdefines a void, or air-gap, which is configured to receive the tip of acutting implement such that said tip is guide or retained therein. 10.The container according to claim 6, wherein the groove or channel of theformation has tear-line and/or perforations.
 11. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein one or more of the plastic surfaces comprises moldedplastic.
 12. The container according to claim 1, wherein said containeris of a molded blister pack type, or a molded clam shell type.
 13. Thecontainer according to claim 1, wherein the container is adapted toguide a cutting edge protruding through said plastic surface of thecontainer in the region of the step and passing through the plasticsurface.
 14. The container according to claim 1, wherein a portion ofthe formation wall is weaker and/or thinner to enable the container tobe opened more easily.
 15. A method of manufacturing a containerincluding: providing at least one plastic surface, having a formation orstep having a peripheral edge arranged around an area to be opened; andproviding at least one second interior surface located in a regionbeneath the at least one plastic surface, and forming a correspondingrecess adjacent formation or step of the plastic surface; sealing thefirst and second surfaces at an edge of the container for securing anobject located therebetween, wherein the plastic surface and the secondsurface are configured such that in cross-section a channel is formedbetween the formation or step and the recess, and said channel isconfigured to receive a cutting edge for opening the container.